Do Not Wait For Storms - Pray To God Now

RELIGION - FROM THE PULPIT

February 3, 1989

Psalms 107:21:

''Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.''

How exciting it is to know the Lord, to be able to communicate with one who is omnipotent, omnicient and omnipresent. How thrilling it is to have prayers answered, to know that God hears you in a world of thousands of people. Yet, how many of us fail to even acknowledge there is a God until the storms of life come: sorrow, bitter disappointment, tragedy or a crushing defeat. Then and only then do we seek God.

For just a moment, close your eyes and position yourself in God's place. You are the father, here is a child you have loved, cared for and protected through the years, yet not one time has this child looked up to say, ''Thank you, father.'' Thank you for health, thank you for life, thank you for daily provisions and for loving me.

Suddenly, one day, illness strikes, suffering begins and this child is crying to you for help - now recognizing that you are the father, the giver of life. How would you feel? It is sad that many of us reach this point in life before we cry out to God. How much better it would be if we thanked him when we felt well, if we praised him for just being alive, and were grateful for food and nourishment.

It is sad, but true, that sometimes God must allow sorrow to enter our lives just to get our attention. If our lives were a bed of roses, would we ever stop and recognize God?

It is said of our Lord that ''rising up a great while before day he went out to pray.'' I should like to share with you a poem. It reads:

I got up early one morning and rushed right into the day:

I had so much to accomplish that I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me, and heavier came each task.

Why doesn't God help me, I wondered.

He answered, ''You didn't ask.''

I wanted joy and beauty, but the day was gray and bleak.

I wondered why God didn't show me.

He said, ''But you didn't seek.''

I tried to come into God's presence, I tried all my keys in the lock.

God lovingly and gently cried, ''My child, you didn't knock.''

I woke up early this morning and paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish that I had to take time to pray.

Are you facing a crisis? Does a storm hover over you? Perhaps God wants your attention. Maybe God is speaking to you through adversity. Talk to him, get to know him personally. He can help and he will help. All you need to do is ask.

Psalms 107:28, 29:

''Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.''